Home Office

Immigration: Fees and Charges

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the amount of fees received by the Home Office from UK citizensfor (1) border, (2) immigration, and (3) citizenship services quarterly since 1 January 2010.

baroness williams of trafford: For Border, Immigration and Citizenship services, fees are paid by UK citizens for HM Passport and Government Register Office services. Details of income received for these services are set out in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for written parlimentary questions. However the information requested can be found in the attached document.



Dept Annual Rpt: pgs 117/134/126/111/133/136/115
(Word Document, 1.22 MB)

Immigration: Fees and Charges

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the amount of fees received by the Home Office for (1) border, (2) immigration, and (3) citizenship services, quarterly since 1 January 2010.

baroness williams of trafford: Details of the income that the Department has generated from border, immigration and citizenship services is provided in the Annual Report and Accounts, published on Gov.uk. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for written parlimentary questions. However the information requested can be found in the attached document. 



Annual Report - pgs 117/134/126/111/133/136/115
(Word Document, 1.22 MB)

Middle East: Refugees

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the UNHCR’s management of the relocation of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the UK under various schemes; and, in the light of the use of Official Development Assistance to fund the costs of refugee resettlement, whether they have any plans to make this assessment public.

baroness williams of trafford: UNHCR is the internationally recognised and mandated agency for dealing with refugees. It has a global presence and 65 years’ experience in handling refugee crises. UNHCR is uniquely placed to help the UK authorities to identify and process vulnerable refugees who would benefit from resettlement in this country. The UK works in close partnership with UNHCR to resettle refugees from Iraq and Syria and we monitor the delivery of our schemes on an ongoing basis. The National Audit Office, Public Accounts Committee, International Development Committee and Home Affairs Committee have all considered the UK’s Resettlement Programme under their respective remits and their findings have been made available publicly.

Refugees: Middle East

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UNHCR’s consideration of religious identity in their criteria for the referral of refugees from Iraq and Syria for resettlement in the UK under various schemes.

baroness williams of trafford: With regards to resettlement, the UK works according to the humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality- which means that we do not take into consideration the ethno-religious origins of people requiring assistance as we resettle solely on the basis of needs, identified by UNHCR.UNHCR is the internationally recognised and mandated agency for dealing with refugees. It has a global presence and 65 years’ experience in handling refugee crises. UNHCR is uniquely placed to help the UK authorities to identify and process vulnerable refugees who would benefit from resettlement in this country.The seven vulnerability criteria used by the UNHCR are Legal and or Physical Protection Needs; Survivors of Torture and/or Violence; Medical Needs; Women and Girls at Risk; Family Reunification; Children and Adolescents at Risk and Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions. Individuals are not specifically identified for resettlement based on their religion or ethnicity but members of minority communities may well meet one of the other vulnerability criteria set out by UNHCR.

Refugees: Middle East

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of resettlement programmes for refugees from Iraq and Syria in countries such as Canada and Australia; and whether any lessons can be learned from these programmes in relation to refugees who have experienced religious persecution.

baroness williams of trafford: The UK works closely with its international resettlement partners, including Australia and Canada to further international understanding and expertise on resettlement programming. Through international forums such as the Syria Core Group, facilitated by UNHCR, and the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement, the UK works alongside other resettlement partners to address a multitude of policy and procedural matters with the aim of improving the way we resettle refugees globally.The seven vulnerability criteria used by the UNHCR are Legal and or Physical Protection Needs; Survivors of Torture and/or Violence; Medical Needs; Women and Girls at Risk; Family Reunification; Children and Adolescents at Risk and Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions. Individuals are not specifically identified for resettlement based on their religion or ethnicity but members of minority communities may well meet one of the other vulnerability criteria set out by UNHCR.

Refugees: Syria

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UNHCR’s processes for screening refugees from Syria; and whether these processes are sufficiently robust to prevent Daesh fighters from being selected for resettlement.

baroness williams of trafford: We take security extremely seriously in cases referred to us for resettlement, working closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). When potential cases are submitted by the UNHCR for consideration they are screened and considered for suitability for entry to the UK: we retain the right to reject individuals on security, war crimes or other grounds. The UNHCR has its own robust identification processes in place. This includes the taking of biometrics, gathering documentary evidence and conducting interviews. Additionally we are continually considering how we can enhance the comprehensive security arrangements we already have in the UK.

Entry Clearances: Higher Education

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy regarding the admission of foreign academics to the UK, the provision of evidence in cases where foreign academics are denied entry to the UK, and whether there has been a decline in the numbers of foreign academics visiting the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: This Government recognises the value that foreign academics bring to the country. There are a number of flexible routes that provide for a range of activities that are permitted to be undertaken in the UK.The Immigration Rules set out the requirements of these routes. Academic visitors must satisfy the decision maker that they are genuine visitors who will leave the UK at the end of their visit, intend to undertake a permitted activity, will not undertake prohibited activities and have sufficient funds to cover the reasonable costs of the visit. Clear guidance is available online that explains the requirements and the evidence that an applicant may wish to provide in support of their application.Due to the range of activities visitors to the UK can undertake whilst in the UK, the Home Office does not publish statistics of the sub-sets of visitors.

British Nationality: Ceremonies

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees set by the Home Office for citizenship ceremonieswas used to fund their delivery of ceremonies in each month since 2010.

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees set by the Home Office for citizenship ceremonieswas used to fund other border, immigration, and citizenship services in each month since 2010.

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees set by the Home Office for citizenship ceremonies was not used to fund border, immigration, or citizenship services in each month since 2010.

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees set by the Home Office for citizenship ceremonies was retained by (1) local councils, and (2) the Home Office, in each month since 2010.

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment was made by the Home Officeprior tosetting the fee for citizenship ceremonies.

baroness williams of trafford: A citizenship ceremony fee has been payable since January 2004. The Home Office sets the fee in consultation with Local Authorities at a level that is designed to recover cost of conducting citizenship ceremonies. The current fee of £80 reflects the estimated average costs to local authorities across the UK.All income from the citizenship ceremony fee is retained by the local authorities and none is used to fund other border, immigration, or citizenship service costs.

British Nationality: Ceremonies

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey havemade of the effect of citizenship ceremonies on promoting British values and improving integration.

baroness williams of trafford: Individuals who are granted British citizenship have already demonstrated their ongoing commitment to the UK by satisfying the statutory requirements for naturalisation or registration. The citizenship ceremony marks that transition to British citizenship and allows the new citizen to pledge their allegiance to the Queen and loyalty to the UK, underlining what it means to become a British citizen. Anecdotal evidence from those attending ceremonies shows that they regard these as significant and symbolic events.We have no plans to formally evaluate the impact of the ceremony.

Fire Prevention

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 25 July (HL689), and in the light of the requirement under theRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that "the responsible person must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks", whether they amended that Order to allow a person other than the responsible person to "undertake the risk assessment on their behalf"; and if so, through what mechanism.

baroness williams of trafford: Article 18 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets out that the responsible person must appoint one or more competent persons to assist them in undertaking the preventive and protective measures, unless they have the sufficient training and experience or knowledge to do so themselves. The Fire Safety Order has therefore not been amended in this way.

UK Visas and Immigration: Telephone Services

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was received in fees by the Home Office from people using the phoneline provided by UK Visas and Immigration for people to make inquiries about the status of their visa applications for each month since 1 July.

baroness williams of trafford: UK Visas and Immigration in–country contact centres provide information about the Immigration Rules and the Points Based System requirements via a number of published customer enquiry line numbers. In 2014, in line with Cabinet Office guidance , UKVI changed all 0845 and 0870 prefix helpline numbers to lower call tariff rate 0300 prefix numbers. UKVI do not generate any income from these non-geographic numbers enquiry lines. The £1.37 per minute call charge is levied on the International phone line service to fund the commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system. Those who use the services are predominantly from outside the UK. Our web site www.gov.uk is the main source of information and advice and is free of charge. Further details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.

British Nationality: EU Nationals

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications for British citizenship they received from EU nationals in each month since 2010.

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many successful applications for British citizenship there werefrom EU nationals in each month since 2010.

baroness williams of trafford: The information requested is published on a quarterly basis and given in the tables below.British citizenship applications (Naturalisation and Registration) by nationality - EU nationals Q1Q2Q3Q4Calendar Year Total 20102,0062,4702,1342,3788,988 20112,5312,1311,8932,2888,843 20122,8162,4162,3772,82910,438 20133,8894,4545,1628,17121,676 20142,8032,8382,7163,21411,571 20153,9893,7044,2355,41817,346 20162,9783,2404,1305,11215,460 20179,5479,713   Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2017, table cz_01_q_a. By recorded date of application.British citizenship grants (Naturalisation and Registration) grants by previous nationality- EU nationals   Q1Q2Q3Q4Calendar Year Total  20101,8342,2112,3392,0388,422  20112,1451,5291,9961,7447,414  20122,3052,1512,8813,21010,547  20133,4324,5243,5896,10417,649  20145,1392,3528721,71110,074  20155,7961,2962,1543,77613,022  20166,5232,9983,6374,04217,200  20175,0465,578 `   Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April to June 2017, table cz_06_q.   By recorded date of decision.  Note grants made may relate to applications made in a previous quarter   Statistics on applications and grants of UK citizenship by nationality is published in the Home Office ‘Immigration Statistics’ Citizenship tables cz_01_q_a and table cz_06_q , available on the .GOV.UK website and via the library of the House. 



Table - HL1864/HL1865
(Excel SpreadSheet, 18.79 KB)

Immigration: Fees and Charges

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment was made by the Home Officeprior tosetting fees for (1) the settlement checking service, and (2) the nationality checking service.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not set the fee for the settlement and nationality checking services. These fees are set locally by individual local authorities under their wellbeing provisions.

Immigration: Fees and Charges

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees set by the Home Office for settlement checking services at local councils was used to fund the delivery of those services in each month since 2010.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not set the fee for the settlement checking service. These fees are set locally by individual local authorities under their wellbeing provisions.

British Nationality: Fees and Charges

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees set by the Home Office for nationality checking services at local councils was used to fund the delivery of those services in each month since 2010.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not set the fee for the nationality checking service. These fees are set locally by individual local authorities under their wellbeing provisions.

British Nationality: Fees and Charges

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees for citizenship set by the Home Officewas used to fund the Home Office’s assessment of citizenship applications for those applications assessed by local councils using the nationality checking service in each month since 2010.

baroness williams of trafford: Fees received by the Home Office in respect of Citizenship applications are not used to fund the Nationality Checking Service. This service is offered by Local Authorities who fund its provision from the fees they set.

British Nationality

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey havemade of the case for relaunching a Life in the UK Advisory Group to reassess the effectiveness and impact of reforms such as the citizenship test and ceremony a decade after their launch.

baroness williams of trafford: The Life in the UK Advisory Group provided key recommendations on establishing the current processes for those applying for, and being granted, British Citizenship. We have no plans to relaunch it.

British Nationality: Assessments

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation with naturalised citizensthey undertookbefore launching the current Life in the UK citizenship test.

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of granting Cornish protected minority status in relation to the Life in the UK citizenship test.

baroness williams of trafford: The Life in the UK test is based upon our handbook – Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents – which is available for all applicants to study as part of their test preparation. It was revised substantively in 2013, and took into account feedback received from previous applicants and others who had provided comments on it. The content of the handbook moved away from statistics and related information and put the emphasis on British history, culture and democracy. The test questions were revised at this time to reflect the change in emphasis. We will consider whether it would be appropriate to make the test available in Cornish as part of the protected minority status.

Immigration

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmenttheyhavemadeof introducingEnglish language proficiency exemptions for applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain or citizenship because of nationality.

baroness williams of trafford: No assessment has been made of introducing English language proficiency exemptions for applicants because of nationality.All those applying for indefinite leave to remain under a provision where knowledge of language and life in the UK (KoLL) is a requirement, and all those applying for naturalisation as a British citizen, must meet KoLL. Exemptions to this requirement are primarily based on the applicant’s inability to prepare for or sit the test. Where an applicant has a physical or medical condition which would make it unreasonable to expect them to undertake the test, they can be exempted. Exemptions also exist on the basis of age.There are no exemptions from KoLL due to a person’s nationality. A person who is a national of a majority English-speaking country will, however, be able to use this to demonstrate that they meet the English language part of the KoLL requirement.

British Nationality: Ceremonies

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultationthey haveundertakenwith any of the more than two million new citizens since citizenship ceremonies were first introduced to ensure that those ceremoniespromote British values and improve integration.

baroness williams of trafford: Individuals who are granted British citizenship have already demonstrated their ongoing commitment to the UK by satisfying the statutory requirements for naturalisation or registration. The citizenship ceremony marks that transition to British citizenship and allows the new citizen to pledge their allegiance to the Queen and loyalty to the UK, underlining what it means to become a British citizen. Anecdotal evidence from those attending ceremonies shows that they regard these as significant and symbolic events.

Asylum: Children

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions the Home Office has questioned the reported age of an asylum-seeking minor in the last 12 months.

baroness williams of trafford: Statistics on age disputes are published on a quarterly basis as part of the Immigration Statistics release. They can be found on Asy 10 at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/638599/asylum3-apr-jun-2017-tables.odsThe breakdown for year 2016 is as follows: YearGeographical regionCountry of nationalityAge disputes raisedAge disputes resolvedAge disputes resolved: under 18 when  raisedAge disputes resolved: 18+ when  raised2016TotalTotal928945370575

Asylum: Interviews

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the average duration of an asylum interview over the last 12 months.

baroness williams of trafford: I am sorry but the data required to answer the question is not recorded in a way that can be reported on accurately.

Asylum: Employment

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend the right of asylum-seekers to work beyond the jobs listed in the Shortage Occupation List.

baroness williams of trafford: We have no plans to extend asylum seekers’ right to work beyond the jobs listed in the Shortage Occupation List for those whose claim has been outstanding for at least 12 months through no fault of their own. This policy is designed to prioritise access to employment for British Citizens and those lawfully resident here, including refugees.

Asylum: Finance

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government by whom, and when, the sum of £36.95 for asylum seekers' cash support was determined; and whetherthey have any plans to increase it.

baroness williams of trafford: Asylum seekers and their dependants who would otherwise be destitute are provided with a cash allowance and accommodation if they need it. The Home Office regularly reviews the level of the cash allowance to ensure that it is sufficient to cover their essential living needs. The current allowance of £36.95 per week for each person in a household has been in place since 6 April 2015 and was set following a review that took place earlier that year. There was a further review in 2016 and a report of the outcome was published in March 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers The report sets out the methodology used in the annual review to assess the adequacy of the allowance, which has been accepted by the courts. A further review is currently ongoing. Whether there will be any changes in the level of the allowance depends on the outcome of that review. 



Report on review of cash allowances:asylum seekers
(PDF Document, 578.28 KB)

Immigration

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to put in place measuresto help individuals for whom the cost of an immigration DNA test is too expensive, thereby preventing them from being reunited with family members.

baroness williams of trafford: Those applying for family reunion are not required to provide DNA evidence to prove their family relationship and can rely on other evidence to support their application. Our guidance on considering family reunion applications highlights the challenges that applicants may face in obtaining documents to support their application and makes clear the types of evidence that can be provided.

Visas: Married People

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made ofthe use of the Public statement: relationship no longer subsisting forms.

baroness williams of trafford: No formal assessment has been made of the use of the Public Statement: Relationship No Longer Subsisting Forms.

Fracking: Lancashire

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner has the power to instruct the Chief Constable to suspend, or scale back, the policing operation at the Cuadrilla site until such time as additional funding is provided by the Home Office.

baroness williams of trafford: We would expect PCCs and Chief Constables to regularly discuss policing within the force area and funding, however the decision on whether to police a protest is an operational one for the Chief Constable. This is set out in statute in paragraphs 30-33 of the Policing Protocol Order 2011.

Fracking: Lancashire

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish a detailed breakdown of the request for an additional £3.1 million from Lancashire Police for policing the Cuadrilla site.

baroness williams of trafford: It is not our policy to release details of a Special Grant funding application whilst it is under consideration.

Borders: Security

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what comparative assessment they have made of the different border security arrangements concerning passport checks for arrivals at airports and ports in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government works closely with Ireland on matters of border security. This work is intrinsically linked to the Common Travel Area (CTA), a special border-free zone encompassing the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.To protect this arrangement there is a high level of collaboration between the UK and Ireland to strengthen the external border of the CTA. A joint programme of work includes the sharing of information and increased understanding of respective border arrangements, increased sharing and use of data to inform immigration and border security decisions, and the alignment of border policies and processes.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Joint European Torus

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to seek to maintain the activities of, and ensure completion of ongoing experiments at, the Joint European Torus (JET) nuclear fusion facility at Culham in Oxfordshire after the end of the current contract between the European Commission and the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in 2018.

lord prior of brampton: The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK continues to lead the world in fusion research[1]. We have taken action to secure the future of the Joint European Torus (JET) facility by guaranteeing the UK’s share of JET costs until the end of 2020, and are working closely with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to engage positively with EU partners. The relevant Written Ministerial Statement on the JET underwrite can be found here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2017-06-27/HCWS13/ . [1] A 2016 independent review by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) found the UK fusion research programme to be ‘of world-class quality, in facilities, people and impact’.



Written Ministerial Statement
(PDF Document, 109.77 KB)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Commonwealth: Human Rights

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to raise the issue of human rights at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are engaging with the Commonwealth Secretariat, other member states and organisations from across the Commonwealth to agree an agenda for next year's Heads of Government meeting. In this respect papers have been circulated on five key pillars on which the agenda may be progressed. These are prosperity (trade), sustainability, security and fairness. The final pillar of fairness is subject to agreement with member states and the secretariat provides substan​tial scope for the important issue of human rights to be raised.The Government believes that the Commonwealth is a force for good around the world, through its promotion of freedom, democracy, and human rights as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. The UK-hosted 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will encourage all Commonwealth members to uphold these values.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have raised the issue of human rights with the government of Saudi Arabia; and if so, what response they have received.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Foreign and Commonwealth ​Ministers and officials regularly raise human rights with their Saudi Arabian counterparts, most recently in September. The Saudi Arabian Government are well aware of our views on the death penalty, women's rights and the restrictions on freedom of expression and belief as set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights Report.

Israel: Burma

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to persuade Israel to ban arms sales to Myanmar, following the sustained violence against the Rohingya Muslim community in Myanmar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities. Under the EU arms embargo to Myanmar, the UK would not export military equipment to Israel if we believed that the ultimate end user destination would be Burma.

Syria: Military Aid

marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the total cost to the UK since 2011 of arming and assisting rebel groups and Kurdish militia in Syria; and whether the UK continues to fund such activity.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK does not supply arms to anybody in Syria. Through the cross-government Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) for Syria the UK has provided political support and non-lethal equipment to the moderate opposition. This has included training, the supply of communications, medical and logistics equipment, and chemical weapons protection equipment to moderate armed groups, the value of which to the end of Financial Year 2016/17 was £28 million. The UK does not fund Kurdish militias. The support that the UK provides to Syrians help save lives, bolster civil society, counter extremism, promote human rights and accountability, and lay the foundations for a more peaceful future.

Yemen: Military Intervention

marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of concerns that UK arms sold to Saudi Arabia are being used in the conflict in Yemen, why they keep no records of the casualty rates associated with that conflict.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As set out in my answer of 21 September to PQ HL1393, the UK does not have access to sufficient information to allow us to make accurate assessments of the number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict in Yemen. The most recent UN figures can be found on the website of the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Government takes our international obligations extremely seriously and has one of the most robust arms exports regimes in the world. The key test for our continued arms exports to Saudi Arabia in relation to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is whether there is a clear risk that those items subject to the licence might be used in a serious violation of IHL. The situation is kept under careful and continual review.

Syria: Politics and Government

marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans in the near future to reopen lines of communication with the regime of President Assad in Syria; and if not why not.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Since the withdrawal of our staff from the British Embassy in Damascus in February 2012 and the closure of the Syrian Embassy in London in August 2012, our dealings have been minimal and only in relation to essential consular or administration issues. There is no plan to change this. We believe the Assad regime has lost all legitimacy due to its atrocities against the Syrian people and that a sustainable political settlement in Syria requires a political transition.

Israel: Burma

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to reports that Israel is continuing to sell weapons to Myanmar given that the EU and the US have both banned arms sales to that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Under the EU arms embargo, the UK would not export military equipment to Israel if we believed that the ultimate end user destination would be Burma. Israel is not subject to the EU embargo.

Israel: Bedouin

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the impending forcible removal of the Bedouin village of Khan al-Amar if the ruling of the Israeli Supreme Court is implemented.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK has repeatedly called on the Israeli authorities to halt proposals to demolish Khan al-Ahmar. Prior to the most recently scheduled Israeli High Court hearing on the matter on 25 September – subsequently postponed - our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities on 24 September.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of progress in the proposed revitalisation of the 2015 peace agreement in South Sudan by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development; what response was made by South Sudan to the July statement of the Troika and the EU; and what other local or church-inspired peace initiatives they are supporting.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to encourage the Government and the opposition to engage with the regional peace process, led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The immediate priority must be a negotiated ceasefire and the inclusion of non-armed actors, and ordinary South Sudanese citizens.The Joint Troika/EU statement, released in July, was a condemnation of the offensive conducted by the Government against opposition forces near Pagak, in clear violation of the unilateral ceasefire it announced in May. President Kiir told us in response that his forces were retaliating for an attack in March on the Government oilfields in the region. In spite of our repeated calls for peace, fighting has continued.Local peacebuilding, including the work of the churches, is vital for addressing the causes of conflict. We recently agreed funding which will help the South Sudan Council of Churches to implement their Action Plan for Peace. The Action Plan, which promotes the development of neutral fora where an inclusive dialogue can take place, will play an important role in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation.

Cameroon: Minority Groups

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Cameroon regarding reports of a recent escalation of violence directed at the Anglophone minority; and whether they have discussed with that government its obligations under international law and its own constitution to uphold the rights of its minorities, to refrain from torture, and to guarantee freedom of movement and expression to all its citizens.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government is deeply concerned to hear reports of deaths and injuries in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, including reports that 17 civilians were killed by the security services and many more injured. The situation appears to have calmed down since 1 October.  The Minister for Africa released a statement on 4 October expressing the Government’s concern, urging restraint, and calling on all parties to reject violence and enter into dialogue to find urgent solutions to Anglophone grievances.  The High Commissioner in Yaoundé has raised the need for dialogue and restraint with the Cameroonian authorities, including their obligations under international law in respect to human rights. He met with Prime Minister Philémon Yang on 27 September and 10 October, the Minister of Communication on 9 October, the Minister of Defence, Director General of Intelligence, and the Minister of Higher Education on 10 October, and the Minister of External Relations on 11 October. He also reiterated the United Kingdom’s concerns in television interviews on 9 and 10 October.  The situation in Cameroon remains tense, and we urge the Cameroonian Government to accept the United Nations’ offer to support dialogue with the Anglophone community.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Government

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in their talks with the Northern Ireland political parties on the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein are continuing talks aimed at reaching agreement to restore the devolved, power-sharing institutions at Stormont. The UK Government, working with the Irish Government in accordance with the three-stranded approach, continues to support these and all other efforts aimed at securing the reestablishment of inclusive, devolved government at Stormont.

Department for International Development

Caribbean: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

lord framlingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the urgent need, in the wake of recent hurricanes, to clear trees, make the maximum use of their timber, and to train local communities in those skills, what plans they have to support on a permanent basis organisations like DART International UK which stand ready to carry out this work.

lord bates: The destructive force of Hurricanes Irma and Maria was unprecedented. Our first priority has been meeting immediate humanitarian needs, restoring security and critical infrastructure. DFID is using our existing supply chains and network of partners to maximise use if local resources which includes timber. DFID works very closely with a number of pre-qualified organisations as part of the Rapid Response Facility, to provide grants in specific areas during sudden crises. DART International UK is not one of those as it is not an existing Rapid Response Facility Partner.

Iraq: Refugees

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that vulnerable Iraqi refugees from Yazidi, Christian and Shia minority groups have the same access to international assistance, such as the right to work, education and asylum, that has been offered to Syrian refugees.

lord bates: This year the UK will provide £40 million for urgent humanitarian assistance in Iraq and over £25 million of support for UN stabilisation efforts, including support for the Funding Facility for Stabilisation (FFS) managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to help rebuild communities affected by Daesh, including for minority communities in newly liberated areas in Iraq. The FFS is currently implementing 171 projects in Christian communities and 80 in Yezidi areas. 746,000 Iraqs from minority communities will benefit from these stabilisation projects when they return home in the months ahead. DFID delivery partners have clear guidelines in place following international humanitarian laws which prevent discrimination in the delivery of aid.

South Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the most acute needs in South Sudan in the coming six months; and what improvements, if any, there have been in the security situation in relation to humanitarian aid and the safe distribution of relief supplies in conflict areas.

lord bates: The UK continually assesses the scale of the need in South Sudan, which is beset by severe social, economic, and humanitarian challenges. UN agencies have said that the number of people in need of aid has risen to 7.6 million, and an estimated 4 million people are displaced, including 2 million who have fled to neighbouring countries. Over the next six months, the South Sudanese people will continue to be in dire need of food assistance, safe drinking water, and emergency health and education services. The security situation continues to deteriorate, with violence perpetrated across the country, including by Government forces, in violation of the unilateral ceasefire declared earlier this year. We have been instrumental in agreeing a tougher approach to deliberate restrictions on humanitarian access by the Government of South Sudan. We ensure UKAid is effective by working through a range of UN and international organisations who are experienced in operating in South Sudan, and who can deliver flexibly according to need.

Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to guarantee humanitarian access to civilian populations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

lord bates: The UK government welcomes the Government of Sudan’s acceptance of the US proposal to provide humanitarian aid to the South Kordofan and Blue Nile States. During the most recent round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on 16 October, the Government of Sudan reaffirmed their continued commitment to this proposal. We have continued to urge the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) to immediately agree to the US proposal, in order to enable humanitarian aid to reach those in rebel controlled locations in the Two Areas.

Sudan: Diarrhoea

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are giving any assistance in relation to cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea in Sudan.

lord bates: The UK is one of the largest humanitarian donors to Sudan. Through the Department for International Development, we are the largest contributor to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which has provided over $2.5 million via the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and other NGO partners for preventative and treatment support to those affected by Acute Watery Diarrhoea. The UK is also a major contributor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which has also provided nearly $2 million funding towards prevention and treatment of this disease in Sudan.

Department for Education

Adult Education: Finance

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the loss of EU funding available for cultural and adult education programmes after the UK leaves the EU, whether they are reducing the amount of funds available each year to local communities for the provision of such programmes; and, if so, by how much.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government will guarantee funding for structural and investment fund projects which are signed before the UK leaves the EU, if they represent good value for money, and if they are in line with domestic strategic priorities. This includes schemes which continue beyond the departure from the EU.As part of our preparations for exiting the EU, we are assessing the impact of EU funds and programmes. The replacement of EU funds following the guarantee period will be based on UK strategic priorities and decisions will be taken in light of other domestic spending priorities.Leaving the EU means we will look to take decisions for policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. Over the coming months, the government will consult closely with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the current round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the national interest, while ensuring appropriate certainty.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Ministers of Religion

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure access for prisoners to chaplains, to support better links with prisoners' families.

lord keen of elie: All prisons have multifaith chaplaincy teams and chaplains are readily available to meet with and support prisoners. They may liaise with families at a time of crisis including bereavement. Some chaplaincies are heavily involved in the facilitation of family days to foster contact between prisoners and their partners and families following a risk assessment.

Prisons: Safety

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will re-examine the report A Place of Redemption, published by the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales in 2004, in the light of the most recent safety in custody statistics.

lord keen of elie: We are grateful to the Noble Lord for reminding us of this important publication. We believe that prisons should be places of safety that allow offenders the opportunity to take part in productive activity and to work towards rehabilitation. That is why we are recruiting 2,500 more prison officers, and implementing a comprehensive Safety Programme that addresses the key issues associated with self-harm and suicide in prisons. The programme includes improvements to the early days in custody and the prison environment, and better identification of and support for prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Beverage Containers: Recycling

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the report by Eunomia published on 11 October, Impacts of a Deposit Refund System for one-way beverage packaging on local authority waste services, that a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and other drinks containers would be likely to yield overall net savings for English local authorities, once other factors such as the likely impact on residual waste arisings are taken into account; and whether they intend to introduce such a scheme.

lord gardiner of kimble: We have not made a formal assessment of the findings in the report by Eunomia published on 11 October. The report will help the work of the Voluntary and Economic Incentives Working Group, which was established as part of the Litter Strategy for England, to examine specific voluntary and/or regulatory interventions that can reduce the incidence of commonly littered items and improve recycling and reuse of packaging.On 2 October, this government launched a call for evidence to inform the Working Group on measures to reduce littering of drinks containers and promote recycling. The call for evidence closes on 30 October and includes questions on the costs, benefits and impacts of deposit and reward and return schemes. The Working Group is due to provide us with advice on potential incentives for drinks containers early in 2018.

Bird Scarers

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have issued any guidance to farmers on the use of bird scarers to protect crops; and if so what.

lord gardiner of kimble: This Government has not issued any guidance to farmers on the use of bird scarers. In consultation with Defra, the NFU has produced a voluntary Code of Practice for minimising noise nuisance from auditory bird scarers, which I will place in the Library, available at: https://www.nfuonline.com/sectors/crops/crops-news/download-our-bird-scarers-code-of-practice/. Noise nuisance can be covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and is enforced by local authorities.



NFU bird scarers document
(PDF Document, 2.64 MB)

Department for Communities and Local Government

Homelessness

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what key factors they have identified as leading to an increase in homelessness; and what plans they have to achieve its reduction.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: One person without a home is one too many – that is why we are taking a new approach, with prevention at its heart. We supported and will implement the Homelessness Reduction Act, which will ensure that more people get the help they need earlier to prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place.We know that homelessness is more than just a housing issue. That is why we are working across Government to ensure that homeless people, particularly those with complex needs, can access the support they need. Our £50 million Homelessness Prevention Programme is funding 84 projects to provide support to homeless people, including mental health, substance misuse and employment support. We are going further by committing to halving rough sleeping by 2022, and piloting a Housing First approach, which operates on the principle that the individual is first housed in self-contained accommodation, and then provided with case-worker support for as long as they need it.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what use, if any, they have made of powers under (1) Part 7 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, (2) Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, (3) the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, and (4) the Empty Dwelling Management Orders, to provide permanent re-housing for households unintentionally homeless because of the Grenfell Tower fire.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is leading on the commitment to provide permanent homes for all households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk within a year. The Government is working closely with the Council to deliver this as swiftly as possible. The Council will make use of the powers available to them, where appropriate, in order to fulfill this commitment. The Council has established an allocations policy for permanent rehousing, which is available at:https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/The%20housing%20commitment%20to%20residents%20%E2%80%93%20FAQ.pdf

Social Rented Housing: Standards

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that all new housing in the public sector is safe, of good quality, with immediate access to environmentally attractive space, close to full shopping amenities and public services, and with adequate and accessible public transport.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The National Planning Policy Framework and supporting guidance set out clear expectations for new development.The expectation is for development to be well connected to amenities and employment. They should also benefit from good transport infrastructure, safe and well overlooked streets and spaces, as well as safe and useable green infrastructure. These high quality new homes would be delivered by a range of housing providers for rent or sale.Grovernment programmes, including the Garden Towns and Villages and Public Land programmes, will ensure that new housing is of good quality and well designed.The estate regeneration programme is supporting 105 estates through grant funding at early stages to deliver improvements to the quality of life of residents.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that all new housing in the public sector is well-designed to avoid stigmatisation.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and supporting Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) sets out clear requirements for all new housing development, including housing for sale and rent, to be of high quality.The Housing White Paper sets out the Governments proposals to strengthen the NPPF so that local authorities can turn down planning applications on the grounds of poor design.Good planning can help build communities, and the NPPF requires local authorities to deliver sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities with a mix of homes for rent and sale appropriate to the needs of their area.Local authorities, housing associations and developers should deliver high quality homes and places where there is no visual difference between tenures, whether for affordable housing for rent or market sale.

HM Treasury

EU Institutions: Buildings

lord tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have sought, or will seek, a valuation of the buildings and office spaces (1) owned, (2) rented,and (3) leased, by the EU wherever located; and what share of those assets have been financed by the UK.

lord bates: The UK makes contributions to the EU budget as a whole, rather than financing individual projects or assets. The arrangements for withdrawal from the EU, including financial matters, will be a matter for the negotiations as part of the Article 50 process. The government is committed to working with the EU to determine a fair settlement for Britain’s exit and the best deal for UK taxpayers.

Cabinet Office

Joint Ministerial Committee

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the next plenary session of the Joint Ministerial Council will be held.

lord young of cookham: The memorandum of understanding agreed between the UK Government and devolved administrations states that the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) should meet at least once a year. Dates for these meetings are agreed by all four administrations. The Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) last met on 30 January 2017 in Cardiff and prior to that, on 24 October 2016 in London. The UK Government and the devolved administrations are working together to agree the date of the next meeting of Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary).

Joint Ministerial Committee

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to issue detailed communiqués after future meetings of the Joint Ministerial Council.

lord young of cookham: The most recent meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) published a communiqué on 16 October 2017. Communiqués are issued after each JMC wherever possible, subject to agreement by all administrations.

Devolution

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the four UK administrations to complete their reviews of the joint concordats and devolution guidance notes.

lord young of cookham: At the last meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary), Ministers discussed the principles which govern relations between administrations and remitted further work on procedural and administrative measures to the secretariat. The concordats and devolution guidance notes should be updated in line with any further changes agreed as a result.

Devolution

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their report on intergovernmental relations between the four governments of the UK.

lord young of cookham: Work on the annual report of the Joint Ministerial Committee is currently being taken forward by representatives of the UK Government and each of the devolved administrations, and is expected to be published in due course.

Government Departments: Business Interests

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government how theymaintain oversight of the performance of different departments in relation to the business appointment rules.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they ensure that all those leaving the Civil Service make applications under the business appointment rules when it is appropriate to do so.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government how departments ensure that former civil servants remain compliant with the business appointment rules for up to two years after they have left the Civil Service.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many departments have set out, and communicated to staff, measures forensuring compliance withthe business appointment rules.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to change the business appointment rules to manage conflict of interests more effectively.

lord young of cookham: The Business Appointment Rules are set out in the Civil Service Management Code and incorporated into Departmental staff handbooks, which are a part of civil servants’ contractual terms and conditions of service. It is for individual departments to determine how best to communicate with their staff on governance matters.Departments are required to publish information on a quarterly basis regarding advice given under the Rules to senior civil servants outside the jurisdiction of the Advisory Committee, and to advise the Cabinet Office of the content of such reports.We will shortly publish updated guidance on processing applications under the Rules.

Government Departments: Business Interests

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each relevant department, how many retrospective applications under the business appointment rules have been approved since 2010.

lord young of cookham: This information is not recorded centrally.

Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations

lord elystan-morgan: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations did not meet between February 2017 and October 2017.

lord young of cookham: The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations is just one of the ways the UK Government engages with the devolved administrations. There has been, and will continue to be, constructive engagement on the issue of EU exit through a variety of means. Since negotiations began, the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU has spoken to ministers from the Scottish and Welsh Governments on a number of occasions to update on progress. The First Secretary of State has met the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and First Minister of Wales to progress discussions between JMC meetings.

Department for International Trade

Bombardier: USA

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take regarding the tariffs proposed by the Department of Commerce of the United States in relation to aircraft partly manufactured in the UK by Bombardier.

baroness sugg: The Government is robustly defending the investigation by the US Department of Commerce and have made clear that Boeing’s case is unjustified. This is reflected in the comprehensive response to Boeing’s petition we have provided. The statements by the US Commerce Department on the 26 September and 6 October are only the initial findings. A further determination is expected in December.We will continue to vigorously defend the interests of the UK aerospace industry and our aerospace workers. We continue to raise this issue with Boeing and with the U.S. Government at the highest levels.

Bombardier: USA

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they are taking to contest the decision of the US Department of Commerce to impose a 300 per cent levy on sales of Bombardier "C" Series aircraft.

baroness sugg: The Government is robustly defending the investigation by the US Department of Commerce and have made clear that Boeing’s case is unjustified. This is reflected in the comprehensive response to Boeing’s petition we have provided. The statements made by the US Department of Commerce on the 26 September and 6 October are only the initial findings. A further determination is expected in December.We will continue to vigorously defend the interests of the UK aerospace industry and our aerospace workers. We continue to raise this issue with Boeing and with the U.S. Government at the highest levels.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Gambling Commission

lord smith of hindhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many complaints the Gambling Commission received in 2016 related to gambling affiliate activity.

lord ashton of hyde: Complaints made directly to the Commission are dealt with by its central contact centre and to collate information on the number relating to affiliates would involve reviewing each complaint individually at disproportionate cost. The Commission is not the lead regulatory authority for advertising or SMS messaging and consumer complaints are directed to the Advertising Standards Authority or Information Commissioner’s Office in the first instance. Gambling operators providing services to customers in Great Britain must be licensed by the Commission and are responsible for the actions of affiliates on their behalf. If an affiliate breaches licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) the operator will be held accountable.

Department of Health

In Vitro Fertilisation

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Bramptonon 22 November 2016 (HL3075), how many human embryos were transferred to uteri in order to establish pregnancies following (1) vitrification, and (2) slow freezing methods; how many human embryos were deliberately destroyed following (a) vitrification,and (b)slow freezing methods, in the last five years for which figures are available; and how many human embryos held in storage have been allocated for potential destruction, but have not yet been deliberately destroyed, in the last five years for which figures are available, following either (i) vitrification,or (ii) slow freezing methods.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it does not hold information on the method of freezing.

Congenital Abnormalities

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what comparative assessment they have made of the UK and other EU member states, in respect of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what comparative assessment they have made of the UK andother OECD members, in respect of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.

lord o'shaughnessy: We contribute to the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies (EUROCAT), which reports on congenital anomaly statistics by country. In 2015, the register for the prevalence of neural tube defects in live births, fetal deaths (over 20 weeks gestation) and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly for the United Kingdom (covering 25.8% of births) was 11.61 per 10,000 births. For other European Union member states, the prevalence range was from 2.19 per 10,000 births to 14.63 per 10,000. It should be noted that 2015 data is not available for all EU member states feeding into the EUROCAT. We are not currently in the position to compare the UK and other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development members, in respect of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.

Congenital Abnormalities

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Prior of Brampton on 14 July, 2015 (HL1000), what is the latest information they have regarding high risk groups suffering neural tube defects at birth.

lord o'shaughnessy: The National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS) report, published by Public Health England in April 2015, reports statistics on congenital anomalies. A copy of the report is attached. Maternal age is a risk indicator for congenital anomalies. NCARDRS provides a breakdown of birth prevalence of all anomalies by maternal age. It reports a variation in the prevalence of nervous system congenital anomalies between maternal ages, with the prevalence in 2015 varying between 16 births per 10,000 total births for the 35-39 age category, to 44 per 10,000 for the under 20 age category. Additional information on high risk groups suffering neural tube defects at birth is not reported.



Congenital anomaly statistics
(PDF Document, 1.52 MB)

Surrogate Motherhood: Lone Parents

baroness barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord O'Shaughnessy on 19 September (HL1420), whether the remedial order relating to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 which will allow single people to apply for parental orders following a surrogacy arrangement will allow applications from single people who are unable to provide their own genetic material; and if not, what assessment they have made of any potential discriminatory effects this could have, in particular against infertile single women.

lord o'shaughnessy: Remedial orders have a very limited purpose, which is to correct incompatibilities identified in human rights legislation. In this case the remedial order is intended to correct the provision in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 that currently only permits couples to apply for a parental order following a surrogacy arrangement, which the High Court ruled was incompatible with Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The provision of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 which requires an applicant to have provided their own gametes to bring about the pregnancy is unchanged by the ruling of the High Court. An Equality Impact Assessment has been completed in respect of the draft remedial order.

Folic Acid

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any discussions have taken place with the food industry in the last five years regarding the level of voluntary fortification of food products with folic acid;and whether those levels have changed.

lord o'shaughnessy: We have no record of discussions with the food industry in the last five years about the level of voluntary fortification of food products with folic acid, and as such, information on whether those voluntary levels have changed is not held by the Department.

Congenital Abnormalities

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the trend in recent years of terminated pregnancies due to neural tube defects.

lord o'shaughnessy: The percentage of terminations for the most common neural tube defects has remained stable in recent years. Between 2012 and 2016, 0.21-0.24% of total abortions were performed under Ground E with the principal medical condition listed as either anencephaly, spina bifida or encephalocele. Information on the numbers of terminated pregnancies is shown in the following table. Year20162015201420132012Anencephaly219237230217208Encephalocele3136313633Spina Bifida177159181167149Sub-total427432442420390Total number of abortions performed under Ground E3,2083,2133,0992,7322,692Total number of abortions185,596185,824184,571185,331185,122Percentage of total abortions with a primary diagnosis of anencephaly, encephalocele or spina bifida0.230.230.240.230.21 Source: Departmental annually published abortion statistics, 2012-2016

Folic Acid

lord rooker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progressthey havemade in setting up a laboratory able to conduct blood folate status analysis.

lord o'shaughnessy: Blood samples collected in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey since July 2014 have been analysed for total serum folate at the Medical Research Council Elsie Widdowson Laboratory in Cambridge using a mass spectrometry-based method. Analysis for whole blood folate continues to be carried out at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States using a microbiological assay, as the method has not yet been successfully transferred to mass spectrometry.

Healthcare Assistants: Regulation

lord willis of knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional resource is being allocated to theNursing and Midwifery Council to support work on the regulation of nursing assistants in(1)2017–18, and (2)2018–19.

lord willis of knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional resource is being allocated to the Nursing and Midwifery Council to support work on the regulation of graduate nursing apprenticeships in (1) 2017–18, and (2) 2018–19.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Department is working with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to introduce statutory regulation for the new nursing associate role. The Department has agreed to reimburse the NMC for work undertaken on this project, up to a budget of £624,182 for 2016-17 and £3,092,523 for 2017-18. Funding required by the NMC for 2018-19 and beyond will be subject to future Departmental business planning rounds. The Department has not provided any additional resource to the NMC in respect of the introduction of nursing degree apprenticeships.

Nurses: Apprentices

lord willis of knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether nursing students who follow an apprenticeship route require a degree awarded by an approved higher education institution in order to apply for Registered Nurse status with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (NDA) allows individuals to train to become a graduate registered nurse through the apprentice route. The NDA is a Level 6 qualification and students via the apprenticeship route are required to meet the same Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards as other nursing students.Only NMC-approved higher education institutions are able to deliver the NDA. NMC approval involves an assessment of the range and quality assurance of practice placements available to students on a nursing degree programme. All nurses must complete a high quality education and training programme to provide the best standard of care for our patients.

Nurses: Training

lord willis of knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional resource is being allocated to Health Education England for higher education institutions to cover the placement training costs for additional nursing degree students in (1) 2017–18, and (2)2018–19.

lord o'shaughnessy: On 1 August 2017, the Government announced additional funding to support clinical placements required in 2017-18 as a result of the increase in training places. Health Education England confirmed that funding will be made available for up to 1,500 additional clinical placements in England for nursing, midwifery and allied health pre-registration degree courses from the 2017-18 academic year. In order to meet the growing need for more registered nurses in the future, on 3 October 2017, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a further increase in the number of available clinical placements for undergraduate nurse degrees. This would result in an increase of over 5,000 nurse training places available each year from 2018-19, an increase of 25% from 20,680 available in 2016-17 to 25,850 in 2018-19. The payments for these placements will be made in line with the tariff prices in the education and training tariff guidance document, published annually by the Department. A copy of 2017-18 Education & Training placement tariffs is attached.



Education and training tariffs
(PDF Document, 546.26 KB)